They may not be fun for everyone, but they do help the brain in at least two ways.

Neuroscientist Ph.D. candidate Shannon Odell says playing video games can increase memory in a few ways, especially spatial memory and episodic memory, which is good news for gamers looking for upside to the amount of time they spend playing Fortnite.

Odell answers that question about video games and several others in this Mailbag Edition of Your Brain on Blank, the Inverse series that puts big questions to a neuroscientist, who can explain how everyday (and not-so-everyday) behavior, chemicals, and experiences affect our brain.